Football icon Lionel Messi’s second day in India went smoothly on Sunday, after a chaotic opening to his three-day tour, as the World Cup winner threw balls into the crowd and met cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar.
Messi greeted cheering fans wearing Argentine soccer jerseys at a packed Wankhede Stadium in India’s financial hub Mumbai, as fans chanted his name.
The 38-year-old Argentine and Inter Miami superstar took center stage in the presence of Indian sporting royalty, including Tendulkar and football star Sunil Chhetri.
Messi and his Inter Miami teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul are part of a so-called Goat Tour of a cricket-mad nation.
Cricket great Tendulkar presented Messi with his iconic number 10 jersey from India’s 2011 World Cup triumph at the same venue.
“I had an amazing time here,” said batting star Tendulkar.
“Mumbai is a city of dreams and many dreams have seen the finish line right here at this site and without your support we would have never been able to see these golden moments in 2011.
“And today, having the big three of football here is indeed a golden moment for Mumbai, Mumbaikars and India.”
Despite being a cricket powerhouse, the country of 1.4 billion people struggles on the football field and sits 142nd in the FIFA rankings.
“Thank you for being here and encouraging the youngsters,” Tendulkar said. “I hope that football here in India will also reach the heights that we all aspire to.”
The Mumbai event went off smoothly compared to Saturday’s in the eastern city of Calcutta, where tight security left fans struggling to catch a glimpse of Messi.
Frustrated fans, many of whom had paid more than $100 for their tickets, destroyed the barricades and stormed the field after the superstar abruptly left the arena.
Spectators also tore up stadium seats and threw water bottles onto the track.
One person was arrested for this incident.
Before the chaos erupted, Messi unveiled a 21-meter (70-foot) statue that shows him holding up the 2022 World Cup.
The footballer was in the city of Hyderabad later on Saturday where he briefly addressed the crowd in Spanish.
Messi ends his India tour on Monday with a possible meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The soccer player won his second consecutive Major League Soccer Most Valuable Player award this week after propelling Inter Miami to the MLS title and leading the league in goals.
The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain striker will spearhead Argentina’s defense at the World Cup in June-July in North America.
